Vizier Vizier Siad Barre Category="Abbasid caliphs"Category="Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire"Category="Ottoman Empire"A Vizier (وزير, sometimes also spelled Vizir, Wasir, Wazir, Wesir, Wezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many oriental languages) is an oriental, originally Persian, term for a high-ranking political (and sometimes religious) advisor or Minister, often to a Muslim Monarch such as a Caliph, Amir, Malik (king) or Sultan. Also used anachronistically or in a modern Islamic republic's Cabinet.

Historical titles

In pre-Islamic Persia the vichir (Middle-Persian for Vizier), was a minister to the Shah.

This word has been borrowed from Persian into Arabic, Turkish and almost all other languages of the Muslim nations.

However it has been used in two very different ways : either for a unique position, in western terms the prime minister at the head of the monarch's government (the term Grand Vizier always refers to such post) or as a shared 'cabinet rank', rather like a British Secretary of state (if one of them is the prime minister, he may hold the title of Grand vizier or another style).

In Islam's Core Area

in Al-Andalus (Iberian peninsula under the Maurs) appointed by the Caliph of Cordoba
- similarly in many of the emirates and sultanates of the taifa which the caliphate was broken up into (for example the Abbadids in Seville)
in Egypt, the most populous Arab country, under the Fatimid Caliphs
During the days of the Ottoman Empire the Grand Vizier was the -often de facto ruling- Prime Minister, second only to the Sultan (many of whom left politics to him, indulging in court pleasures) and was the leader of the Divan, the Imperial Council.
In muslim Iran (Persian empire) the Prime Minister under the politcal authority of the Shahanshah was commonly styled Vazir i-Azam ('Supreme -, i.e. Grand Vizier'; alternative titles include Atabag i-Azam and Sardar i-Azam), and various Ministers held cabinet rank as vazir, including a Vazir-i-Daftar (minister for finance) and a Vazir-i-Lashkar (war portfolio).
In the 'regency' of Tunisia, under the Husainid dynasty various ministers of the Bey, including
In Afghanistan, under the Duranni dynasty, the wazir al-durbar was the ('House') Minister of the Royal Court.

In some societies, unsuccessful viziers were commonly eliminated (justifiedly or as scapegoats). This was particularly common during much of Ottoman history; for example, one of the most brutal sultans, Selim I, had seven viziers executed during his eight-year rule; others were deposed but merely demoted, some even returned in office.

In the Far East (East Indies etc)

In India many rulers, even quite some hindu princes, had a vizir – compare Diwan, Nawab wasir, Pradhan etcetera
In the (former) sultanate of the Maldives (Divehi language), the Prime Minister was styled Bodu Vizier, and various Ministers held cabinet rank as vazierin (plural), including Hakura'a (portfolio of Public Works), Shahbandar (Navy portfolio, also Admiral in chief), Vela'ana'a (Foreign Affairs)

Modern islamic republic

In Pakistan, the Prime Minister (de facto ruling politician, formally under the President) is called Vazir e Azam (Persian for Grand vizier, other Ministers are styled vazirs

Anachronistic historical use

It is common, even among historians, to apply 'modern' terms to cultures whose own authentical titles are (or were when the habit took root) unsufficiantly known, in this case to pre-islamic Antiquity.

In Ancient Egypt the highest ranking government official, after the Pharaoh, was the vizier, acting as a chancellor. However at times the viceroy of Nubia (a military governor general, sometimes a prince of the pharoah's blood) and/or the High Priest of Amun rose to equal or even superior power, some pharaohs are even believed to have lost real political preeminence to the 'kingmakers'.
Among the Huns, the vizier was the second officer in rank after the great king; nor formal status is known, just a class of royal councilors, representatives etc. known by he Greek term logades. Attila the Hun's vizier was Onegesius.

Art

In contemporary literature and Pantomime, the "Grand Vizier" is a character Stereotype and is usually portrayed as a scheming backroom plotter and the clear Power behind the throne of a usually bumbling or incompetent monarch. A well-known example of this is the sinister character of Jafar in the Disney movie Aladdin who plots and uses magic to take over the entire Kingdom of Agrabah under the nose of the nation's naīve sultan, just as Jaffar in the 1940 movie The Thief of Bagdad dethroned his master, caliph Ahmad. Others include the comic book character Iznogoud and the villains of the video games Prince of Persia and King's Quest VI.

Perhaps the origin of this character archetype is the biblical account of Esther. The book details the rise of a Jewish woman to Queen of Persia, and her role in stopping the plot of Haman, chief advisor to the Persian king, to wipe out all Jews living in Persia.

Throughout history the notion of the sinister Grand Vizier has often been invoked when a political leader appears to be developing a cozy relationship with a spiritual advisor of questionable scruples or talents.

Some famous viziers in history

Amir Kabir of the Qajar dynasty.
Nizam al-Mulk of Malik Shah I.

Sources and References

Royal Ark, dynasties in historical context - see each muslim nation quoted in this article, often in the section 'Glossary'